Career ideas
How do I choose a career?
Upon graduating, all the effort poured into university will pay off and a career will be on the horizon.
Like many other students and graduates, you may need help figuring out your what your dream career is. We help you decide which line of work is right for you with advice to identify your values, what motivates you and which sector piques your interest.
We’ll also break down your options – securing your first graduate role ( find out what a graduate role is here ), studying at postgraduate level, embarking on a gap year or pursuing any entrepreneurial endeavours – so that you take the best next step towards achieving your ambitions.
Alternatively, if you’ve already decided on a career and are ready to apply for vacancies, search for internships , graduate schemes or graduate jobs .
Your next move
Achieve your ambitions
Our key advice feature ‘I have a degree, now what?’ fully explains what options are available to you once you’ve secured your degree, including what you can do with your qualification.
Find your career fit
Be inspired
What do you value?
Are you a passionate environmental custodian? Or are you an artist who wants to unleash their creative vision, for instance?
Careers that make a difference
Find out about careers that you’ll find fulfilling and rewarding if you want to help people and make a difference.
Green careers: find a graduate job that helps the environment
Do you want a job that will help save the planet? Find out about the range of green careers available and how employers are becoming more environmentally friendly.
Creative careers for graduates
Find out about jobs in the creative industries and learn how both arts and science degrees can lead to careers where you use your creativity.
Jobs with integrity: the only way is ethics
All jobs involve some ethical dilemmas, but here’s what to consider if you want a job with integrity.
Free online learning
Generate new career ideas
Sign in to targetjobs and complete our free short course to put what we’ve discussed about deciding on a career into practice.
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Make memories & build career skills
Thinking about a gap year?
Our gap year guide is packed with ideas to help you plan the details of your time out so that you spend the 12 months as fun and constructively as possible.
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Explore further study
Pursuing postgrad
You might be considering gaining a postgraduate degree to pursue a specialised career, change your career focus or simply because you have a passion for academia. You might also hope that it will give you extra sway in the jobs market. But studying a masters is a big financial commitment and, if you are studying only because you don't know what else to do or you haven't got work experience, it may not always give you the career boost you hope it will.
Therefore, studying at masters level and beyond should always be a considered move. Head to the postgraduate study section of targetjobs for all our advice on this topic.
Starting a business
See yourself as an entrepreneur? If you have a business idea you’d like to make a reality, then see our guidance on how to start a business, sources of support for your business ideas and tips on how to gain work experience that can help with entrepreneurial endeavours.
How to become an entrepreneur when you graduate
Increasing numbers of students are setting up their own businesses after leaving university. Find tips on how to develop your entrepreneurial skills and learn how this will help you whatever path you choose.
Covering your living costs if you follow an alternative career path
Thinking of starting your own business or entering a career where you’re unlikely to get a full-time, permanent job as a fresh graduate? Get our advice on ways to cover your living costs and take inspiration from our case study of actor Lily Maryon.
Seven steps to starting a business
Get to grips with the basics of how to start your own business as a graduate by reading our seven-step guide.
Sources of support for entrepreneurs
Discover the support available for student and graduate entrepreneurs, whether you’ve already launched a start-up up or are just curious about whether you might enjoy doing this one day.
FAQs
More careers advice
Browse by category
Advice for school leavers
Discover the world of options open to you on finishing school or college and get tips on how to make the right decision for you.
CVs, applications and tests
Find the tools and tips you need to help you apply for graduate jobs or internships. We cover every aspect of the application process, from writing a CV to answering online application questions and sitting psychometric tests.
Career ideas
Find advice for figuring out your dream career, including what options are available to you after graduating and how to choose the right graduate role.
Finding a job
Finding a job isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Here we help you to jump potential hurdles, giving essential advice for home and international students: from applying in tough economic times to getting a top graduate job with a 2.2.
Internships
Completing an internship allows you to sharpen your skills, improve your CV, prepare for the world of work and potentially land yourself a graduate job. Discover what internships actually involve, how to apply for them and how to make the most of them.
Interviews and assessment centres
You impressed on paper; now it’s time to show the employer in person that you’re the right hire. Learn how to do this with our expert advice for answering interview questions, developing interview techniques and acing assessment centre exercises.
Job descriptions
Discover the qualifications, skills and experience you’ll need for more than 300 job roles and find one you’ll love.
Job offers and working life
Job offers, rejection emails and stepping into the working world with your first graduate job can pull you in a million directions. Fortunately, we’ve curated advice on how to accept job offers, bounce back from rejection and make an impact in your first job.
Skills for getting a job
Discover the skills that major graduate employers seek and how you can demonstrate them on your application form, and at interviews and assessment centres.
University life
Wanting to leave uni with a degree is a given. But what do you want from the other bits of student life? Discover how to combine study, rest, work and play with our insights from students and graduates.
advice by sector
